December 23, 2008

Flea-->DUMBO Winter Pop-Up

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We've been waiting for the Flea to take a nap to announce some big news:

For 12 weekends, starting January 10/11, the Flea will be launching a Winter Pop-Up Market for antiques in DUMBO. We're taking over an unrented corner storefront in a prime location every Saturday and Sunday until the end of March. (The outdoor Flea returns the first weekend in April 2009.)

The Winter Pop-Up will feature 25 top vintage/antique vendors of furniture, clothing, objects, jewelry, curiosities, accessories, art, lighting, and more. We're curating the Pop-Up very selectively to provide a mix that appeals to folks looking for quality, hard-to-find, and collectible items. (As my grandma would say, "Oh, that sounds like nice stuff." Exactly Miriam.)

The kind folks at New York magazine and Gothamist already showed us some love.

The address is 76 Front St. (corner of Washington, map above) in the heart of DUMBO. Come make a day of it--grab a Grimaldi's pie, an Almondine pretzel-cheese bread, some hot cocoa from Jacques Torres, a DFA 12" from Halcyon, a Brooklyn photo book from Powerhouse, and of course check out the next phase of ze Flea!

We'll be revealing the first round of vendors here in the new year, stay tuned.

December 22, 2008

Flea Hiatus

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The Flea's last date of our smash-success first season was yesterday. (Nostalgic Day One photo above.) A smashing Gifted market was a nice capper to 9 months of Fleadom--the sun even made an appearance after possibly the most disgusting morning of weather all year.

Thanks to everyone who helped us make the '08 great: vendors, customers, clean-up and security staff, Flea Smurfs (you know who you are!), Loughlin HS peeps (thanks MC Kevvy Kev), Eddie Rock's delivery/porter service, Transportation Alternatives' bike valet, Moosaka on the decks, and on and on. We are grateful!

The Flea will be back in Fort Greene the first weekend in April 2009. Stay tuned to the blog for the latest updates--we'll have lots of news in the meantime. (Big announcement tomorrow in fact.)

December 20, 2008

Open for Business

This Sunday, Dec. 21, only the indoor market at the Masonic Temple will be open. The hours there are 11am to 6pm. The Masonic Temple (right) is located directly across the street from the Flea schoolyard, at Lafayette and Clermont Ave. More than 50 vendors will be there, including lots of Flea regulars--come on down!

December 18, 2008

Gift of Light

Hanukkah and Christmas are nearly upon us, worldchanging is the order of the day, and after 35 weeks of Fleaing, we have much to be grateful for. This Sunday is our last in Fort Greene for a few months, and 8 months ago who woulda thunk that your humble Flea would still be pulling in thousands of folks every Sunday, spawning international media coverage, and creating a community of local pals and vendors too.

Our little caboose is a runway train that could--and we thank everyone who bought, sold, munched, strolled, told, braved the cold, and of course dripped huarache juice on the schoolyard pavement.

(We're launching a 12-week indoor "pop-up market" for vintage/antiques vendors in Dumbo, starting Jan. 10/11. It will be at 76 Front St. and be open Saturdays and Sundays from 11am to 6pm. We'll be back in Fort Greene the first weekend in April 2009. Stay tuned to your Flea Blog for the latest--much more info coming soon.)

Here's one last highlight of Gifted vendors for the final Sunday.

Hanukkah is, as "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me" recently suggested, ultimately an energy-efficiency holiday. With that attitude, check out the groovy iLampe folks, John and Kirsten, who salvage trash and thrift-store items and turn 'em into interesting and unique lights. Their lamps incorporate tossed-off Eames and Saarinen parts, as well as random stuff like the adjustable beaker holder, worn metal pipes, vintage brass socket, and Edison bulb in "Beaker" (above).

Alyssa Ettinger is a star of the handmade scene, and her cast milk bottles (right) and other ceramics are old tymey and modern at the same time.

Our pals from Castor + Pollux will be in the house, er, Temple on Sunday, mostly with their awesome purses, hoodies, and T's festooned with their double-horse logo.

Pearson%20book.jpg Claudia Pearson will be selling and signing copies of her funky new kids book, Tribal Alphabet (right), which tells the stories of indigenous peoples the world over--the ABC's of anthropology.

Plus, of course, loads of amazing vintage objects, jewelry, stationery, toys, art, crafts, clothes, and food.

For the last time in '08, see you at the Flea!

December 17, 2008

Give It Away

Bonbon%20raffle.jpg For the final week of Gifted--and our smashing 2008 debut Flea season--we'll be helping Deb of Bonbon Oiseau raise much-needed dough for the excellent Food Bank of NYC during the holidays. Food Bank works to end food poverty and increase access to affordable, nutritious food for low-income New Yorkers throughout the five boroughs.

In a nice coup, the Food Bank has tapped the Robin Hood Foundation to do a $2-for-$1 match for every dollar donated this holiday season. (The goal is to raise $6000 total.) You can give by buying $5 raffle tickets directly from Deb at Gifted this Sunday, or for $10 on her website.

Then on Monday on her website (via video!), Deb will announce the winner of 12 snazzy prizes (right) donated by local folks (many of whom are Flea vets), including Ann Wood's amazing handmade birds, a cute Perch! Design earthenware "tiny basket," robin coasters by Sesame Letterpress (also at Gifted this week), beautiful photo prints by Traci French, and an alpaca knit hat by Hortensia Handmade (also at Gifted!).

Look for Deb selling her gorgeous jewelry near the entrance on Sunday. She'll also have a basket displaying all the prizes at her table.

Flea goodness!

December 15, 2008

Finders/Keepers Week 20

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This week's Hunt moved inside to the Gifted holiday market, which was a-wasseling as ever.

Check back Friday at noon for this week's items.

Kelsy (left) from Bed-Stuy scored the awesome "Hi-Ho" vintage Santa tree-decorating game from Rebecca at Bid Brooklyn. Rebecca's a Flea regular with awesome vintage finds, and she's popped inside for the final 2 weeks of Gifted too--antique decorations galore! (Among other things.)

December 12, 2008

Scavenger Hunt Item: December 14 (Holiday version!)

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The Hunt took a little hiatus there, but it's back with a special holiday edition this week. This awesome item could be anywhere among the 60+ outdoor vendors or the 50 Gifted vendors across the street at the Masonic Temple. (Look for our snazzy new banner!)

For newcomers, when you find the item, which can be hidden in any vendor booth, it's yours, absolutely free! Then we post your photo here on the blog on Monday. Only one winner per calendar month. Items posted every Friday at Noon.

Happy hunting!

Hi-Ho Santa Claus "trim-a-tree" spinner decorating game. Vintage

Market Forces

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Gifted was straight-up rocking all day last Sunday, and we expect more of the same this week. (Check out Brownstoner on the sound system too--he's been working on his mix all week.)

We've raved about weekly Gifted vendors (and will now rave a-gain) like Layla, Acorn, Birdhouse Jewelry, Els Walleyn's teddy bears, Heartisans, Jessica DeCarlo, Jonathan Blum, Lon Black's vintage postcards, and of course foodies like Mast Bros. Chocolate, Fine+Raw Chocolate, McClure's Pickles, and Rick's Picks, Pop Judaica's awesome Hannukah kitsch, Spotted's ornaments and concrete housewares, WrecordsByMonkey's awesome vinyl accessories.

Here are some highlights of what's on tap for this Sunday. Start revving your shopping engines!

Kooky Phyllis of Reclaimed Home (she's a Flea regular) has started "upcycling" (great term!) her nifty vintage finds, including old-fashioned skis-turned-coat hangers (above), wooden boxes-turned-dioramas, and more. Phyl's, ya know, creative. She'll be set up stage right on the bleachers, don't miss her.

Mollie Dash makes her only Gifted appearance on Sunday, unveiling her latest one-of-a-kind vintage/handmade jewelry. Mollie has become something of a standard-bearer in this crowded arena--check her out.

Bien%20Hecho%20Gifted.jpg John from furniture designers Bien Hecho (Flea vets too) also makes smaller pieces, like these collections of NYC pressed leaves in handcrafted oak frames (right).

Davina, who had the kids-portrait photo booth last week, is back with her mesmerizing photos, including pieces from her heralded "Land of the Lost Toys" series. Great gifts.

Pinecone + Chickadee come down from Portland, Maine (Maine!), with their hyper-cute stationery and printed matter (T's, totes, tots), like the awesome "Mustache Snail" (right).

Greenjeans' wood toys by Frank Ridley, the Central Maine woodworker from literally the same tiny town as Senor Flea--South Solon represent!, takes up a table this week.

Geralyn, who repped the Fort Greene Photo Org. at the Flea early on, has wonderful cityscapes, urban portraits, and Brooklyn-centric locales among her largely b+w photo output. You know your bubby likes pics of her old stomping grounds!

Itzy Bitzy Patisserie has moved indoors with her yummy French-style macarons (not macaroons FYI). Did someone say gift box?

If the Maptote Brooklyn bag (right) isn't the ideal friend gift of 2008 we don't know what is. And they have totes of other farflung places we've read about like Portland, LA, even the Catskills.

December 10, 2008

Power to the Plants

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It's technically still fall--this Sunday should be in the high 40s actually.

So it's not insane to announce that the Plant Dr. will be IN this Sunday at the Flea, as Groundworks returns to show off their greenery and pruning and urban-landscape skills. Folks loved their setup of plants and flowers last week, and in anticipation of what we hope will be a regular presence when the Flea returns in April 2009 Carmen and Alice will be providing FREE gardening help to any Fleaster with a horticultural query.

From 10am to 2pm, bring a photo or even just a piece of your ailing or befuddling plant and let the Groundworkers work their magic and provide a prognosis and/or cure.

Look for the green tent in W1 at the outdoor Flea.

December 7, 2008

Gifted On Fire!

Here's the scene from the Gifted Holiday Market about an hour ago. Big turnout! About 20 hardy vendors braved the elements outside too. Hats off to them!

December 4, 2008

What's New?

The Flea got washed out last week for the first time in our 8+ months of existence--a bummer. But we're still finishing strong as we close in on our Dec. 21 final date of the season. We'll have about 60 vendors outside this week, and we've beefed up the Gifted holiday market across the street at the Masonic Temple to about 50 vendors (from 35). Cider, antiques, crystals, winter plants, local shopping, a flurry or two--Sunday Brooklyn Perfect.

Human Hair & Co. is Eric and Matt's eccentric poetry and art project, which includes self-published books, posters and specialty wooden signs. (They're doing the new signs for Book Court in Cobble Hill.) Eric plans to read poems upon request (or just present a brief reading every 20 minutes from his portable lectern), and the guys will also be selling their groovy collages, posters, and on-the-spot portraits. A pair of sincere fellas who really get the spirit of the Flea and are eager to add to it--check 'em out. L7

Groundworks is Carmen and Alice's South Brooklyn garden-design, installation and maintenance firm that creates outdoor environments for residential and commercial clients on rooftops, terraces and suburban sites (right). All their plants are grown locally, and at the Flea they'll be featuring unique tropical houseplants, herbs, small terrariums, small window box plants, bulbs, unique pottery and containers, as well as info galore on winter plantings and the like. They'll be back in spring too as a staple we hope. W1

Vilmos Gruenbaum had one of the old-school antiques shops on Atlantic Ave. (between Smith and Hoyt) until about three years ago, focusing in 18th and 19th Century furniture, and eventually 20th C. too. Now he's down in Sunset Park, but he'll be starting up what we hope is a long run at the Flea. L14/15

Steve Gibson's daughter is moving to Miami, so he's unloading her trove of winter coats this Sunday. Enterprising Steve devised this truck-shaped cart (above) to display their wares, which sort of defies description for Senor Flea. Needless to say, this will be a must-see. B7

Cotton%20Press.jpg The Cotton Press is Lauren and her hubby's eco-friendly, online-only textile shop, making things like kids T's, prints (like "Yellow Dandelion Clock," right), and the like. Cute stuff. B15

Randi scours the German design scene for the best up-and-coming talent for her ex49 export biz. Soccer-ball bags, innovative cutting boards, table-top tchotchkes, cool stuff. E24

Poloppo is a cool design company focused on getting kids' artwork onto products, and they just moved to Brooklyn from San Francisco. Their Design-Your-Own T-shirt kit is pretty rad: draw a picture using the makers and paper on the convertible easel package, mail it in, and 10 days later get back a shirt with his/her own design on it. E23

Barak%20crystal.jpg Barak Wrobel has a big gem and mineral collection (right) that he'll be unveiling for sale at the Flea. Everything from quartz to tourmaline, all shapes and sizes, raw and finished, lots of crazy-looking pieces to be had. We live for these kinds of folks, who appear out of nowhere to bring their passions to the public--i.e. Fleasters like you. E4

Horman's Pickles and Dino the antiques dealer will make their debuts this Sunday after being rained out last week. Welcome them warmly!

December 3, 2008

Portrait Artist

Davina Zagury has been selling her gorgeous photo prints at the Flea on and off all year, and they're always a hit. (Check her website to see her work, which is lustrous and captivating, like the photo from her "Siblings" series, above.) Davina's specialty is portraits of children with items that are meaningful to them, pegged to a theme of her devising.

So Davina will be bringing her latest project, "My Fantasy Portrait," to the Gifted Holiday Market, this Sunday, Dec. 7, only. She'll be setting up a photo studio on the stage at the Masonic Temple where she'll be snapping pics of children as they create their own fantasy photo portrait using their own props, costumes, and of course imaginations. Suggested age is 3-10 y.o.

Participation is free, and portraits are available for purchase directly from Davina.

If you and your child (or children) want to take part, schedule an appointment with Davina at 914.671.3735 either this Thursday or Friday (Dec. 4 or 5) between 10am and 4pm.

This is such a cool idea and great family/friend gift--Davina is so good at capturing kids' essence in a way that's also beautiful and moving. Give her a ring!

December 2008

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